Google Maps for iPhone Now Available to Download

Google Maps for iPhone has arrived and it’s available to download right now from the App Store. The easy to use app is free and includes an intuitive interface, voice guided turn-by-turn navigation, Street View, public transportation directions, and perhaps most important for many users, the routinely accurate Google Mapping data engine.

If you’ve been frustrated with any of the issues with Apple Maps, then you might be particularly thrilled to have Google Maps around on your iPhone home screen again. Even if you have no complaints about Apple’s solution, it’s still a worthwhile download for the Street View feature and public transit options alone.

Many of the features that we have become accustomed to from Apple Maps work very well, including the aforementioned voice navigation, which is a really nice addition. Even little things like tapping the compass to reorient north and south work the same in Google Maps as they do in Apple’s offering, giving an idea of how well made the app is. Perhaps the only valid complaint would be that the app is not yet sized for iPad, so if you wish to run it on a larger screen iPad or iPad Mini it will have to run the iPhone version in 2x mode, though apparently an appropriately sized iPad version is currently in the works.

Google Maps for iOS supports iOS 5.1 and later, including the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. Some option safe limited to newer devices though, like turn-by-turn voice navigation, which requires a 4S or newer. Installing Google Maps on the iPhone will have no impact on Apple Maps, both apps will reside alongside one another in iOS.

Enjoy this tip? Subscribe to the OSXDaily newsletter to get more of our great Apple tips, tricks, and important news delivered to your inbox! Enter your email address below:

17 Comments

How is this any different from creating a shortcut on your homescreen to the mobile google maps site? I feel like people were too lazy to do that in the past and just wanted to complain about anything they can.

At the end of that video it says “It’s here.” I’d have put the text “It’s here (again).” at the end of the video.

I’m wondering what this will do to Apple Maps. Everyone will use Google Maps again, so they stop using Apple Maps, so no one will report any more problems, so it takes even longer for Apple to get their own Maps app to a higher level, so everyone keeps on using Google Maps, because it’s better.

Well, not everyone. I almost never used Google Maps, because the mapping service of my country is way better than Google Maps in my country. Only problem is they only have a website which isn’t even optimized for mobile devices. Still I prefer their website, because of the quality of the maps.

I feel like Christmas just came early. My iPhone is complete, once again.

Wish I had this a few days ago. I needed to go somewhere that didn’t exist on Apple Maps (first time that’s happened to me with the app…I’ve had better luck than others). Fortunately, Google knew where it was, but the web app is more difficult to use while driving.